Feedback review: Eddie Marsan gives one of the performances of his career in this taunt, ever-changing thriller.
Signature Entertainment
Eddie Marsan is a British actor whose name might not be instantly known to you, but his face will. Over the course of his career, Marsan has starred in a variety of films from Filth and Their Finest, to Atomic Blonde and Hobbs and Shaw. Most movies see him cast in a smaller supporting role, typically though they are small but pivotal roles that stick in the memory. Director Pedro C. Alonso breaks with what has become somewhat of a tradition and casts Marsan as the lead in thriller Feedback.
In Feedback, Marsan plays Jarvis Dolan, a late-night talk radio host, who finds the latest episode of his show, Grim Reality, hijacked by masked maniacs. This group wants one thing from Jarvis, a confession from his former co-host Andrew (Paul Anderson) about what happened in a hotel one night several years ago. Jarvis must comply because if he chooses not to, innocent lives are at stake. Can Jarvis get to the truth before it’s too late?
Written by Pedro C. Alonso and Alberto Marini, the plot has an unexpected #MeToo slant to it and hides a very dark heart. It’s one that helps the film stand apart from other single situational thrillers. In many ways, the film is a character story of one man, but there is so much more hiding under the surface. The story is complex and one that stands up to repeat viewing. There’s a lot to digest here with Alonso and Marini working hard to pepper the narrative with a remarkable amount of depth.
Signature Entertainment
Feedback is a taut thriller lead by its stellar performance. Marsan is clearly relishing it, inhabiting almost every frame, and gives one of the performances of his career. His character Jarvis is a complex one, one that has many hidden layers, layers that are slowly pulled away revealing a man quite different to the one we first meet. It’s a lot for one man to shoulder, but Marsan manages with ease. Playing against Marsan as the head of the masked siege masters is Richard Brake. Brake is a familiar face to genre fans and yet in Feedback he spends most of the time either as a disembodied voice or hidden behind a mask. Despite this, Brake still manages to inject plenty of foreboding malice, especially in the scenes where he is just a voice at the end of Jarvis’ headphones.
The direction compliments the performances perfectly, Alonso capitalising on the quiet moments provided by the cast to ramp up the tense atmosphere. With the bulk of the film playing out in Jarvis’ studio booth there is also an intense air of claustrophobia that permeates the screen. He also handles the violence when it happens
Feedback is a great thriller with a stellar turn by Eddie Marsan. The intricate, timely and well thought-out story, masterful performances and well-planned direction, all combine to draw the viewer in and keep them captivated.
Feedback was reviewed at Arrow Video Frightfest. It arrives on Digital HD via Signature Entertainment on Monday 26th August 2019.
